Prof Abu Sayeed, Nishat Mazumder get Nahar Kamal Ahmad Award

Prof Abu Sayeed, Nishat Mazumder get Nahar Kamal Ahmad Awards. Photo- Tahiyat Nazifa Noor-UNB

The first-ever Nahar Kamal Ahmad Achievement Awards were conferred on Bishwa Sahitya Kendra founder and chairman Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed and the country’s first female Everest summiteer Nishat Mazumder on Monday at the Chhayanaut auditorium in the capital.

The award was introduced to mark the 90th birth anniversary of noted writer, short-story author, translator, essayist, researcher and children’s literature author Nahar Kamal Ahmed. Born on September 8, 1935, in Kishoreganj, she is celebrated for her contemporary short stories exploring women’s experiences, societal judgment and emotional depth.

The event began with a sign-language performance of the national anthem, followed by excerpts from a documentary on Nahar Kamal Ahmed currently in development. Special dance performances were presented by the differently-abled children of Satarkul Protibondhi Boichitro School.

Hosted by Mahmud Nurul Momen, the ceremony was attended by dignitaries, admirers, family members and well-wishers of the writer, with bKash Founder and CEO Kamal Quadir present as a special guest.

Speaking at the event, Kamal Quadir said, “In Bangladesh’s reality, where women’s worlds are often confined to household and childcare, Nahar Kamal Ahmed managed to create a distinct identity of her own. With encouragement from her husband, Professor Dr Kamaluddin Ahmad, she pursued both studies and writing after marriage. Alongside raising her children, she became a shining example of how determination and effort can take a person far in life.”

Nazir Kamal Ahmad, son of the writer and Co-Chair of the Awards Committee, said, “We had been planning to honour our litterateurs for the past two years, but then decided to celebrate two iconic figures who inspired people with their impactful work. It is our honour to hand over the maiden edition of the Nahar Kamal Achievement Awards to our lighthouse, Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, and Everest conqueror Nishat Mazumder.”

The awardees each received a crest, certificate and a cheque of Tk 1 lakh.

Handing over the awards, Nahar Kamal Ahmed said, “Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed has become an architect of enlightenment by spreading the light of education across the country through Bishwa Sahitya Kendra, while Nishat Mazumder has created history as the first Bangladeshi woman to conquer Everest, inspiring women across the nation. I am delighted and grateful to honour them on this day.”

Expressing his gratitude, Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed said, “The award in the name of Nahar Kamal Ahmed is special, as she belongs to a distinguished family of Bangladesh. Her late husband, Professor Dr Kamaluddin Ahmad, was the founding head of the Department of Biochemistry at Dhaka University and later served as Director of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science and Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University. Though I believe young achievers like Nishat deserve such awards more, I am grateful to receive this honour today.”

Nishat Mazumder said, “What fascinated me most is that Nahar Kamal Ahmed was a student of Sakhawat Memorial Trust, pursuing her education at a time when opportunities for women were scarce and difficult. While I feel humbled to receive this award, I believe the real winners are all the women who continue to confront and overcome societal challenges every single day.”

The programme also featured a song performance by Chhayanaut teacher Shukla Pal and concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony celebrating the 90th birthday of Nahar Kamal Ahmed alongside the children of Satarkul Protibondhi Boichitro School. - UNB